TRENTON — Gov. Chris Christie said today he will not renominate New Jersey Supreme Court Justice Helen Hoens because he expected legislative Democrats would have kept her in limbo or blocked her altogether.

In a surprise move, Christie appointed Camden County Superior Court Assignment Judge Faustino J. Fernandez-Vina to replace Hoens. Fernandez-Vina was first appointed to the bench by former Gov. James E. McGreevey on July 16, 2004.

Christie said he called Hoens, who was appointed to the court in 2006, today to tell her of his decision and that she "took the news like a complete professional." He said Sen. Raymond Lesniak (D-Union), a member of the upper house's Judiciary Committee, made clear Hoens would not be renominated.

"I thanked her for her seven years of outstanding service on the New Jersey Supreme Court," Christie said at a Statehouse news conference. "And I told her that I was sorry that because of the conduct of people like Ray Lesniak and others, that she was not going to be able to serve if she so chose until her retirement age at 70."

Christie said he chose Fernandez-Vina because of his experience, his ethnic background as a Cuban-American and because he likes him personally. He described him as "smart, with common sense, who’s worked hard, been confirmed twice by the Senate himself and is leading one of the most complicated vicinages to run in this state."

Last year, the Senate Judiciary Committee, which is controlled by Democrats, rejected two of Christie's nominees to the high court — Bruce Harris and Phil Kwon — and his current nominees — Robert Hanna and David Bauman — have been in limbo for months.

Christie said the logjam backed him into a corner with Hoens.

"She took the news like a complete professional, understood my point of view and thanked me for sparing her the treatment that was given to Mr. Kwon and Mr. Harris," Christie said.